Construction Contractor License Requirements by State
Every state handles contractor licensing differently. 33 states require a state-level contractor license, while 18 leave licensing to cities and counties. Find your state below to see board info, fees, exams, and insurance requirements.
Updated April 2026. Always verify with your state licensing board before applying.
51
States + DC
33
State-Level License
18
Local / County Only
50+
License Types Tracked
Alabama
Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors
verifiedLicense RequiredAlaska
Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing
verifiedLicense RequiredArizona
Arizona Registrar of Contractors
verifiedLicense RequiredArkansas
Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board
verifiedLicense RequiredCalifornia
Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
verifiedLicense RequiredColorado
No state licensing board — local jurisdictions
infoLocal / County OnlyConnecticut
Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection
verifiedLicense RequiredDelaware
Delaware Division of Professional Regulation
infoLocal / County OnlyDistrict of Columbia
DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection
verifiedLicense RequiredFlorida
Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB)
verifiedLicense RequiredGeorgia
Georgia Division of Secretary of State — Licensing Boards
verifiedLicense RequiredHawaii
Hawaii Contractors License Board
verifiedLicense RequiredIdaho
Idaho Division of Building Safety
verifiedLicense RequiredIllinois
No state licensing board — local jurisdictions
infoLocal / County OnlyIndiana
Indiana Professional Licensing Agency
infoLocal / County OnlyIowa
Iowa Division of Labor
infoLocal / County OnlyKansas
No state licensing board — local jurisdictions
infoLocal / County OnlyKentucky
No state licensing board — local jurisdictions
infoLocal / County OnlyLouisiana
Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors
verifiedLicense RequiredMaine
No state licensing board — local jurisdictions
infoLocal / County OnlyMaryland
Maryland Home Improvement Commission
verifiedLicense RequiredMassachusetts
Massachusetts Office of Public Safety and Inspections
verifiedLicense RequiredMichigan
Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA)
verifiedLicense RequiredMinnesota
Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
verifiedLicense RequiredMississippi
Mississippi State Board of Contractors
verifiedLicense RequiredMissouri
No state licensing board — local jurisdictions
infoLocal / County OnlyMontana
Montana Department of Labor and Industry
verifiedLicense RequiredNebraska
No state licensing board — local jurisdictions
infoLocal / County OnlyNevada
Nevada State Contractors Board
verifiedLicense RequiredNew Hampshire
No state licensing board — local jurisdictions
infoLocal / County OnlyNew Jersey
New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs
verifiedLicense RequiredNew Mexico
New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department — Construction Industries Division
verifiedLicense RequiredNew York
No state licensing board — local jurisdictions
infoLocal / County OnlyNorth Carolina
North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors
verifiedLicense RequiredNorth Dakota
North Dakota Secretary of State — Contractor Licensing
verifiedLicense RequiredOhio
No state licensing board — local jurisdictions
infoLocal / County OnlyOklahoma
Oklahoma Construction Industries Board
verifiedLicense RequiredOregon
Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB)
verifiedLicense RequiredPennsylvania
No state licensing board — local jurisdictions
infoLocal / County OnlyRhode Island
Rhode Island Contractors Registration Board
verifiedLicense RequiredSouth Carolina
South Carolina Contractors Licensing Board
verifiedLicense RequiredSouth Dakota
No state licensing board — local jurisdictions
infoLocal / County OnlyTennessee
Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors
verifiedLicense RequiredTexas
No state licensing board — local jurisdictions
infoLocal / County OnlyUtah
Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL)
verifiedLicense RequiredVermont
No state licensing board — local jurisdictions
infoLocal / County OnlyVirginia
Virginia Board for Contractors
verifiedLicense RequiredWashington
Washington Department of Labor & Industries
verifiedLicense RequiredWest Virginia
West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board
verifiedLicense RequiredWisconsin
Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
verifiedLicense RequiredWyoming
No state licensing board — local jurisdictions
infoLocal / County OnlyData sourced from state licensing board websites and verified against official publications. Requirements change frequently — always verify with your state board before applying for a license.